Page 260 of Lady of Starfire

“How is he?” Scarlett asked, worrying her bottom lip.

Cyrus shrugged. “Like one would suspect, I suppose.”

She nodded, climbing off the bed and stretching her back. “Are you ready for this?”

“More than ready. You think it will really work?”

She smiled that wicked thing that made him wonder just how much of Arius’s traits had passed to her. “She will beg by the end.”

* * *

Cyrus strolled down the stairs to the Sorceress’s area of the prison. His hands were in his pockets, and he toyed with the Semiria ring, running a finger along the edges of the ruby. This was so godsdamn risky.

He took a deep breath as he neared the bottom of the stairs, sweat already beading on the back of his neck. She hadn’t trapped him in a memory lately which meant she was likely low on his blood. She wouldn’t let herself run out of it. It was too much leverage.

Forcing himself to keep his steps slow and casual, he sauntered into the passage outside her cell, meeting eyes of bright violet.

Her head tilted, that lank black hair shifting over a shoulder. “Fae of Fire.”

“Gehenna.”

She clucked her tongue. “I have missed your company, so I will let that be this time.”

“How generous of you.” He fidgeted with the items in his pocket as he said, “I have something for you.”

Her hands curled around the bars in eagerness as she pressed her face to them. “What is it?”

He withdrew a piece of paper folded into fourths and held it up.

Her face screwed up in disgust. “What do I want with that?”

“It’s something to remember me by.”

“I will not forget you, Pretty Fire Fae. Your demons taste divine.”

“That is disturbing,” he muttered, slipping the folded paper back into his pocket. Then he shrugged, “All right.”

“Did you bring me blood?”

“I think I will be keeping the rest of that.”

Her eyes narrowed, irritation beginning to flicker there. “We have a bargain.”

“Really, Gehenna, you should be more specific with your bargains,” Cyrus said. “A sacrifice of betrayal?”

The Sorceress watched him, irritation shifting to amusement. “Do you think you can get out of this, pretty Fire Fae?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Gehenna.”

Her lips pursed. “You know better than to call me that. Do not do it again.”

“Ah, but as of this moment, my bargain with you is fulfilled.”

“Then where is my spell book?” she hissed. “Where is my ring?”

“Right here,” Cyrus said, slipping it from his pocket and holding it up. “Sacrifices were made for this, you know. People died.”

“But you did not,” the Sorceress said, eyes fixed on the ring. Then they snapped back to his. “And my spell book?”

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